“The College Council is an excellent resource for creating new strategies and measuring the effectiveness of our programs,” noted SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. “As we welcome the newest College Council members, it is important to recognize and reflect upon the service of all of our College Council members both past and present. The College would not be where it is today without their commitment and dedication.”

Wesley L. Stitt of Canton was among the retiring members of College Council. Stitt was the College Council Chair from 1996 to 2008. He won the prestigious Distinguished Citizen Award for his extraordinary advocacy and tireless support for higher education.

The newest College Council Members are:

Grace Y. Burke of Watertown, a doctor of optometry and director of optometric services at the Watertown Center for Sight, replaced Steven F. O’Brien on the College Council. Burke is currently completing her second term on the New York State Board of Optometry. She is a past president of the Northern New York Optometric Association. She has traveled internationally to provide humanitarian eye care and has hosted community forums locally on a variety of eye health issues.

Timmy J. Currier of Massena, the chief of police for the Massena Police Department, replaced Joseph L. Thesier on the College Council. Currier has been an adjunct instructor in the College’s Criminal Justice program and is also a founding board member of the St. Lawrence County – David Sullivan Law Enforcement Academy. He’s a certified police instructor and a member of both New York State and international associations of Chiefs of Police. Currier is also a junior varsity basketball coach at Massena Central High School.

Cecily LaVigne Morris, an associate court attorney for the St. Lawrence County Supreme Court, replaced Joseph L. Baruth on the College Council. Morris is a former attorney for the firm of LaVigne, Morris, and Peets in Massena. She is a member of the New York State and St. Lawrence County bar associations, a member of the St. Lawrence County Domestic Violence Task Force, and a past member of the Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley Board of Directors.

Roger J. Sharlow of Waddington, the owner of RJS Consulting, a firm that provides import and export services for CSX Transportation, replaced Stitt on the College Council. He’s the former mayor of Waddington and a former town trustee. Sharlow has also served with the Madrid-Waddington Central School Board, including three years as board president. He also served as the secretary to the St. Lawrence County Local Government Task Force Executive Committee. This year, Sharlow received the Silas A. Wright Award, the Democratic Committee’s highest honor.

All campuses of the State University of New York are advised by a ten-member College Council. Nine members are appointed by the Governor to serve in varied terms. In addition, a student representative is elected annually.

The College Council is entrusted with broad powers of advice and counsel. Members are concerned with all major institutional policy decisions, setting academic standards, budget review, and all manner of decisions that impact the growth and further development of the College.